The report comes as Philippine and Chinese vessels remain locked in a two-week stand-off just outside Filipino waters. Both countries claim rights to the waters which contain potential oil and gas reserves.

While its critical of China, the report doesn’t mention the multitude of U.S. security arrangements with various states throughout the Asia-Pacific region which undoubtedly complicate territorial claims and stoke tensions among the neighboring countries.

Washington holds that it can patrol China’s two-hundred-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with naval warships without China’s permission, an opinion China disagrees with. Of course, the U.S. would certainly object to Chinese naval vessels patrolling the western seaboard along Californian shores. But such rules are only considered to apply to states other than America

8 thoughts on “China Criticized as Too ‘Assertive,’ as US Expands Military in Asia-Pacific”

some points:
as the paracels are undoubtedly real islands, any EEZ should be drawn including them as the foci of the 200 nm (radius) zone, which the map is not. of course, china and vietnam contest the ownership of those islands… which the US didn't say much about when china took possession of them during the US' war against Vietnam.

the map contrasting china's full claim to the UNCLOS standard guidelines is all well and good, but it doesn't show any of the neighboring countries' claims… vietnam for instance claims all of the paracels and pretty much all of the spratleys. most of the neighboring countries are claiming more than just the EEZ zone indicated, so the map not indicating so is somewhat misleading. basically ALL neighbors are making claims beyond simple 200 nm radius from continent/main islands.

one could also mention that taiwan claims part of the spratleys, basically on the same basis that mainland china is… i.e., taiwan considers itself to have seceeded from china, and it's spratley claim is derivative from the same claim that china has. (taiwan's problem with it's claim is that nobody recognizes it as a country, which is prerequisite to it's territory being recognized… albeit, given it's claim is entirely derivative of China's, any 'pseudo recognition' given to Taiwan could be extended to it's Paracel claims without problem)

another aspect of this story is the actual negotiations, which China wants to take part in. there has been an ASEAN meeting going on with this topic on the table, but some parties, namely Vietnam and Philliipines, wish to reach an intra-ASEAN agreement on their negotiating principles (or, deciding to collectively insist on certain non-negotiables, which obviously aren't inherently in the interests of all ASEAN partners) before they talk to China… Certainly that is their prerogative in how they choose to negotiate, but one must ask if that approach is really the best for reaching agreement between all parties. Further, given that many of the neighboring countries' claims are JUST as much in conflict with each other (Vietnam, Malaysia, Phillipinnes) as they are with China, WHY exactly is China being excluded from initial negotiations? All parties are militarily occuyping islands within their claim zone. Whose interests are served here? In any case, ASEAN members closers to China, like Laos, are expected to 'represent' China's interests in the ASEAN talks.

I truly don't know where to start with this, there just is so much wrong here.

First, the Philippines against China. Didchya ever? The mere thought makes me laugh myself silly. Of course, the Filipinos must be pretty sure that the US is going to back them up on this one, otherwise, I seriously doubt that they would be pissing off China like that – oil or not.

Then, there is the US itself blatantly bullying, challenging and pissing off China. This is the height of hubris and madness of Empire. A sure sign that the US is not only delusional but also self-destructive. If I were a Chinese dignitary, I would simply demand that the US pay mass amounts of its debt every time it engages in one of these transgressions and refuse to lend them anymore. I'd love to see what they would do then. Perhaps, they'd totally lose it and actually go to China and ask them for several billions in order to wage war against them. At that point, China should swat them like the fly they are in their Chinese ass.

This should help put this article into context. Make no mistake, China and Russia are sending a loud and clear message to the US:

China, Russia launch joint naval drill

China and Russia have launched their first joint naval drill in the Yellow Sea off China’s east coast amid heightened tensions between Beijing and its Asian neighbors over maritime disputes.http://www.presstv.ir/section/351020404.html

The six-day-long naval exercises kicked off on Sunday near Japanese waters and China's Qingdao city off the coast of Shandong province with the presence of more than 4,000 Chinese servicemen in the maneuvers.

A total of 16 vessels and two submarines from the Chinese navy together with 13 aircraft and five shipboard helicopters as well as four warships from the Russian navy's Pacific fleet and three supply ships will take part in the drills.

"This joint military exercise is a long scheduled one between China and Russia in order to uphold regional peace and stability," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters on Sunday.

The drill will focus on joint maritime air defense, anti-submarine tactics, maritime search and rescue, according to China's Defense Ministry.

The maneuvers coincide with the two-week-long joint military exercises between the US and Philippines near the South China Sea as both Beijing and Manila are at loggerheads over a disputed Scarborough Shoal that is believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves.

Beijing also disputes a chain of islands in the East China Sea, which is also claimed by Japan.

China and Russia have together participated in four military exercises since 2005, but these are the first naval drills between the two countries.

Well, I lived in China for over 5 years. In my mind it is clear where our fake leaders and the real people who call the shots from behind the scene want this to go. So I think first we all people of goodwill have to deal with a real misconception planted in our minds so many years ago and reinforced. Did God actually send us to "lead the world" when we can't even control Chicago? And if not, how to get the word out to the misled, the confused, as this concept makes them want war war war. And also very basically have we dealt with the fear issue, fear of death, etc. that makes it easy to manipulate us. Did they used to say, "Its a free country."
Twitter: BRZEE_BRZEE Kyle Munroe munroekyle@yahoo.com

Anyone know where I can get support to write a book like DON'T BLAME CHINA or would have materials or ideas for that which I would credit in my book. munroekyle@yahoo.com or BRZEE_BRZEE on Twitter. Let's stay free and happy. R Kyle Munroe